Employing local community knowledge to safeguard endangered eels
Traditional fisherman Daman Ismail in Sukabumi ©FAO/Des Syafrizal
23/09/2024
Native eels are economically and ecologically important in Sukabumi. It is a regency with 2.8 million people in the western part of Indonesia's most populated island of Java. Forty percent of the regency's protein intake comes from fish. However, over recent decades there has been a 42 percent decline in eel abundance. This has primarily been due to construction of dams that block the eels' migratory routes, preventing them from reaching their breeding grounds. This, in turn, has had a deleterious effect on nutrition and economic wellbeing of communities that traditionally depend also on fishing for their livelihoods. Eels have also become a high-income export commodity.
Left/top: Typical river in Sukabumi - ©FAO/Imron Rosadi Right/bottom: Eel fishing in Sukabumi - ©FAO/Des Syafrizal
Meeting the challenge
In response to this challenge, a project was specifically designed for and implemented in Indonesia, the IFish project, which also covered Sukabumi Regency. It aims were to protect endangered fish species and support local economic activities along Cibareno river and Cicatih river in Sukabumi. IFish represents collaboration between the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia and FAO. IFish partnered with Charles Sturt University, using funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), to develop a fishway adapted to local environmental conditions. Previous fishway designs implemented in Indonesia often did not function properly because they did not consider the specific needs of the region’s native fish species or the unique characteristics of the local rivers. By addressing these shortcomings, the newly designed fishway aimed to restore the migratory routes for eels, giving them a better chance for population recovery. Data gathered by the IFish project highlighted the urgent need for effective intervention to reverse the decline in the eel population.
Sri Padmoko, current Head of the Fisheries Office of Sukabumi District says that the "fishway represents an important effort to ensure the sustainability of native fish resources, especially eel populations in Sukabumi Regency". He adds that "Now, regulations are stipulated that include water permit requirements at the provincial level in West Java."
The importance of knowledge of local community
A key factor in the success of the IFish project has been the involvement of the local community in building on their skills, traditions and knowledge. This is very much in line with FAO’s views on using local community skills and knowledge, especially those of small-scale producers, to address location-specific challenges. From the early stages of the project, residents of Sukabumi were engaged in the planning and implementation of the fishway. According to the project officials, the grassroots involvement has been crucial in enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of the fishway. Residents have formed groups that monitor river activities, ensuring that unsustainable fishing practices are curtailed and that the fishway remains functional and effective.
Wintarsih, a representative of Sukabumi's fisher group from Cibitung Village, says that “the IFish project has provided us with valuable information on how to conserve native river fish – particularly eels. It has also enabled us to convey our aspirations, suggestions and feedback to the local government, urging them to pay attention to the needs of fishers.”
Additionally, she hopes that the fishway project in Sukabumi Regency will help save the endangered fish, which the community relies on for domestic consumption and income generation.
Aerial view of the IFish fishway - ©FAO/Asril
IFish as a model for other districts
The IFish project’s success has also had a broader impact, leading to new regulations in Sukabumi. These regulations now require the inclusion of fishways in all future dam construction, including those undertaken by private companies. This policy change, according to the Sukabumi District government, reflects a growing recognition of the importance of integrating environmental considerations into infrastructure development.
The Sukabumi fishway could serve as an innovative model for other districts in Indonesia and other countries, demonstrating how to integrate environmental conservation with local economic development. The key to success and sustainability will be communication, participation and collaboration that employ both scientific knowledge and local community knowledge.
Related links
FAO, West Java Government to ensure freshwater fish sustainability